Fruit-crate



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

' S. G. RICE.

FRUIT CRATE. No. 354,736. Patented Deo. 21, 1886. ,f f

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. v

S. G. RICE.

FRUIT CRATE.'

(No Model.)

e m P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SOLOMON C. RICE, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FRUIT-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,736, dated December 21, 1886.

Application filed July 3, 1853. Serial No. 99,947. (No model.)

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stands or crates consisting of anumber of drawers or trays placed one above another.

The several features of my invention and the advantages resulting from their use, together or otherwise, will be fully apparent from the following description.- j

My invention is applicable to stands of any desired numberl of drawers.

For the purposes of illustration l will show my invention as appliedto a stand containing four drawers.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, making a part of this specification, and to which reference is hereby made, Figure l is aside elevation of the stand, showing in position the drawers and thel cover. Fig. 2 isa top view of the same.l Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the stand after the movable drawers have been removed therefrom. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an optional forni of'drawer or tray, especially adapted for certain purposes hereinafter mentioned. Fig: 5 shows a modi` iication of the loop, d, shown in Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the loop.

Each of the corner-posts may be made in one or more pieces, and in general each cornerpost consists of two vertical portions united together at an angle, preferably aright angle,

and forming,l as shown, what may be termed.`

pieces forming the bottom tray, preferably as shown-viz., the portion a being secured to a side, m, of thetray, and the portion b to an end, n, of the tray, at a corner of the latter.

At each end of the stand is a bottom strip, S, firmly secured to the bottom of that pair of corner-posts which is at the same end of the the top of the second'tray, as shown.

stand, and also firmly'secured tothe bottoni board of the bottoni tray or drawer, A, preferably by nailing or screwing up through the bottom strip, S, into the bottoms of the posts, and down through the bottom of the drawer A intoV the strip S, and in the last case the nails arev preferably clinched. A vertical opening or slot, a', is preferably presentin each corner-post, which slot extends down in the post,preferably to a point corresponding with Vhere the slot is prsent and strips a and b are employed, the lstrip or `portion b is cut away, leaving the slot d in each corner-post. p

' The cover D is provided at each end with cross-,cleats G, the width of the cover D and the length of the Cleats C being preferably equal to the width of the drawers'A, and the cleats C being secured to thelcover D in Such a position that the ends of said cleats, when the cover D is in position, will be opposite to the strips a .of the corner-posts, the corners of the cover resting in angles of the corner-posts formed by the strips a and b. To each end of the cleats C is secured a loop, d, (preferably ofhoop-iron,)'capable of surroundin g the strips a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Where the slot a is omitted from the corner-post and it is desired to still1 retain the The bottoni tray, A, and the corner-post B,-

secured thereto, form the frame for receiving the remaining trays, and when these various trays are in position in this .frame the corners of each tray, resting in the angles formed in the corner-posts, are thoroughly protected by said corner-posts, and the trays cannot therefore be injured by coming in contact with any object. This liability to injury is a great objection to. this class of stands as ordinarily constructed, the construction being such that the trays are not protected, and the ends of the trays are liable to be torn off in handling, and also in taking the trays in and out of the stan d, and thefruit or vegetables are thus in- ICC j ured or lost. My invention obviates all danger of this kind.

the portions a of the corner-posts, passing down in the slots a until the cover rests on the upper tray. The bottom of each tray and the lower side of the cover is, for the purposes of ventilation, provided with two or more cleats or strips, g, the ends of which cleats rest upon the sides of the tra-y below, and thus slight spaces are caused to be left between the various trays. The trays may be constructed as 'shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Y

When the fruit to be handled' is delicate or the shipment is a long one, the trays are prefv erably formed as shown in Fig. 4. Either the side m, the ends u, or bottom p, or two or all of these, of the trays are provided with slots e. Preferably the ends are of one piece, the slots e being cut therein, and for the purpose of enabling the end pieces to retainsuicient strength the slots do not extend the entire length of said ends. Preferably the sides or bottom, or both, instead of being each made of one piece, as the ends, are composed of slats nailed or otherwise secured to the end pieces of t-he tray, slight spaces being left between the various slats, which construction allows a frceventilation.

The protection and support afforded to the trays by the cornerposts render these vadvantages in the construction of the trays available, and the cornerposts are in turn rendered available by means of the cleats firmly secured to the top, and having the links or eyes or hooks which engage the corner-posts. Thus, when the top is placed in position on the stand, the top (Jo-operates to brace the posts, and, in combination with the trays, to render the stand well braced, secure, and strong. The top, beingthus securely held in place, forms a strong and safe basisfor another stand placed upon said top, and another stand may in turn be placed upon this second stand, and thus any desired number of stands be placed one above another without danger of injury to those stands which support those in.

turn above.

The ends of the posts are preferably chain-vV trays are composed of three di'erent lengths,

of material, for the reason 'that theY ends of 7o the trays project beyond the sides to engage with the corner-posts of the stand to hold the trays in position.

The angular cornerposts, besides possess-Y ing the advantages already described, also form strong braces4 for the stand, makingl it much more firm and durable than the stands as heretofore constructed.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, .is-

1. In a stand for fruit and vegetables, theA corner-posts B, provided with a slot, a', in connection with a cleat provided with loops or hooks d, one portion of which loop enters the slot a,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a stand for fruit and vegetables, the corner-posts B, provided with a slot, a', in combination with a cover provided with loops or hooks d, one portion of which loop enters the, slot a', substantially as and for the purposes specifed.-

3. The angulated corner-posts secured tothe bottom drawer of a fruit and vegetable stand, each of said corner-posts having a verticalV slot, combination with the cover D, having secured thereto the cleats C, each of said cleats being provided with the loops d, entering its adjacent slot and encircling a portion of the post, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The corner-posts B, consisting of the pieces a and b, secured to the bottom drawer of afruit and vegetablelstand, each of said corner-posts having a slot, a', in combination with the cover D, having secured thereto the' cleats C, each of said cleats being provided with the loops d, encircling the piece a, enter- ICO ing the slot a of each post, substantially as yand for the purposes specified.

soLoMoN e. RICE.

WVitnesses J. WM. STREHLI, MILTON HILL. 

